Wave Field Produced in a Composite Laminate by a Concentrated Surface Force

Abstract

With the increasing use of advanced composites in a variety of modern applications, it has become necessary to employ reliable and effective nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods to determine the integrity and serviceability of structural composites. The use of ultrasonic techniques involving guided waves and contact type transducers can provide powerful characterization methods for composites. However, the wave phenomena associated with these methods are, in general, far more complex and less well understood than those associated with conventional techniques, based on longitudinal waves. Realization of the full potential of these newer techniques will require a better understanding of the quantitative features of the wave phenomena than is available at present.